Nomination Interviews

Does anyone know if the nomination interviews are ever done via telephone? I'm guessing we would have to travel the 3 hr ride to Anchorage. The roads through the mountains are dangerous in the winter with high risk of avalanches that cover/block the only highway (there was one last week).
Flights are very weather dependent especially in the winter

On the other hand, there is so much lost in a telephone interview vs. in person.

When my DD went to DVP in Feb, there was girl from Kodiak Island. Traveling to Anchorage for her would be extremely expensive.

I also heard that there was a young man from Alaska for class of 2017 who never went for an interview, he was just nominated by MOC on the merit of his paper submission. Is this possible?

I would make the drive. I have to drive about 8 hours to San Antonio (on icy mountain roads) for my MOC interview. I was given the option to interview over the phone, but my ALO suggested that we make the drive. Think about it, the interview is for the greatest job of your life. I think it's worth the effort to go over there.

At my Senators board this past Saturday we interviewed something like 112 candidates.

And after that, there were 16 phone interviews to conduct.

It's not uncommon at all. And it's usually very open, casual, but to the point.

That being said...if the option is given: phone interview or in person...I think a previous poster said it beautifully: "This is the most important job interview in your life so far...go in person and make an impression!"

I was told at one of the Academies Nights in Anchorage that MOC don't hold interviews in Alaska. The secretary for Don Young's office also confirmed with me that they don't interview, basically for the reasons you listed. They want the kid from Nome to have the same opportunity as someone who goes to Bartlett in Anchorage.

There are no interviews in Alaska for the reasons you mentioned. My DD has an appt to the Air Force Academy already thanks to a Presidential nomiation she was already granted, but she did get a phone call from Senator Begich's office yesterday granting her one of his slots. All nominatioms in Alaska are competitive, there are no principles. Fingers crossed you also got that call!

There are no interviews in Alaska for the reasons you mentioned. My DD has an appt to the Air Force Academy already thanks to a Presidential nomiation she was already granted, but she did get a phone call from Senator Begich's office yesterday granting her one of his slots. All nominatioms in Alaska are competitive, there are no principles. Fingers crossed you also got that call!

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YES! DD got a call from Senator Begich 2 days ago. She has a competitive nomination! So thankful for the notice just before Christmas. It was a very happy surprise. May God bring the same blessing to others who are eagerly waiting for this news.

Does your DD have her portal updated under nomination status? My DD portal still says "none", but I'm thinking it might be related to the holidays. I'm guessing that the admissions office is closed for a few days.